Draymond Green's future with the Golden State Warriors is in doubt, especially with Bob Myers potentially out of the front office. Where else might he end up?
The Golden State Warriors were ousted in the second round of the playoffs by the 7-seed Lakers, the perfect capstone to an uneven and often frustrating season for the reigning champs. Draymond Green was at the center of it all, for reasons good and bad. He made another All-Defensive team, but he also punched Jordan Poole in the face and killed the Warriors' once-infallible chemistry.
Now Green's future with the team is up in the air with the 33-year-old expected to decline his $27.6 million player option and enter the free agent market. Green has already stated his desire to run it back, but it's the NBA — players and teams don't always get what they want.
To add fuel to the fire of speculation, Warriors president Bob Myers is possibly on his way out the door. Myers has been a central figure in not only assembling the Warriors' dynasty, but keeping it all together. His exit could beget sizable changes. Not to mention the looming financial implications of the new collective bargaining agreement, which will make it difficult for high-spending teams to flesh out their rosters.
So, if Green does end up leaving… where might he end up?
Potential Draymond Green free agency destinations if he leaves Warriors
3. New York Knicks
Let's say the New York Knicks are tired of the Julius Randle roller coaster and desire significant change in advance of next season. Let's say the Knicks, with significant trade capital at their disposal, decide to put together a sign-and-trade offer that can net the Warriors a couple draft picks. And, let's say Draymond Green likes the idea of playing in a big market to complete the third act of his storied career. Maybe, he gathers, Draymond Green can bring glory back to the Garden.
This would require several moving parts and the overcoming of several logistical challenges, only made more challenging by the potential hole in the Warriors' front office. But the Knicks are known to prowl the market in search of game-changing talent and Green, even at 33 years old, can still change the complexion of a game with his defense.
Green is an all-time defensive quarterback, constantly barking out orders and putting teammates in the right position to succeed. He would be Tom Thibodeau's dream player. The Knicks would lean further into Jalen Brunson's playmaking and reorient the offense around Green-Brunson two-man actions. That said, New York would need a fair amount of confidence in R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickly picking up the scoring slack left by Randle's presumed departure here.
2. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have lots of cap space, the most respected head coach in the NBA, and they're soon to employ Victor Wembanyama. Green is a risky long-term investment, but the Spurs could see significant value in Green as a veteran leader who can shepherd the team's young players toward contention.
San Antonio has a glut of switchable wings to surround Green and Wembanyama on the defensive end. Green roaming in space with Wembanyama as the backline defender at the rim is a frightening proposition. Jeremy Sochan has as much to learn from Green and his play style as any player in the NBA. What a perfect mentor-mentee pairing.
The Spurs, at this point, wouldn't be terribly far from contending. Wembanyama is going to be very good, very fast. Not many rookies can play sustainable winning basketball from the jump, but he probably can. Meanwhile, Devin Vassell is a legitimate initiator and pull-up shooter on the perimeter, Tre Jones is a mistake-free, steady-hand point guard, and Keldon Johnson averaged 22 points per game last season.
It would take some convincing on Green's end, but if the Warriors' door closes it's hard to imagine a more appealing "rebuild" to join than San Antonio's. Popovich would put tremendous stock into Green as a defender and leader and there has to be intrigue in the idea of pairing with Wembanyama in the frontcourt.
1. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are another southwest team with cash to burn and a significant desire to upgrade their roster. The Ime Udoka hire came with the not-so-subtle message that Houston plans to contend sooner than later. Not coincidentally, the Rockets have been heavily involved in rumors surrounding players like James Harden, Khris Middleton, and Jaylen Brown.
Draymond Green would be an interesting pickup for Houston on the basketball front. He's a tremendous defensive backbone, something the Rockets desperately need. He's also the kind of vociferous leader that locker room requires after years of sitting idly in the NBA basement under Stephen Silas.
Green's fit with Aleperen Sengun in the frontcourt could end up being a double-edged sword. On one hand he's a tremendous defender who could help cover some of Sengun's weaknesses on that end (especially with his communication and orchestration skills). On the other hand, Sengun — while he can shoot — tends to operate around the elbow and in the post. Green's lack of shooting could infringe upon his space a little bit.
That said, the risk is generally worth the reward with Green. The Rockets need veteran leadership in a big way and it wouldn't be unwise to pair one of the league's best defenders with one of its great offensive players if James Harden does indeed make his triumphant return this summer. If Green sees the blueprint for contention with Udoka at the helm, he could feasibly be tempted.
